Liposuction

Liposuction – When Body Contours Are Shaped with Greater Balance

Localised fat deposits may be genetically determined and can remain even when body weight is stable and lifestyle is healthy. They are commonly seen in areas such as the abdomen, hips, flanks, thighs, back or beneath the chin.

Liposuction is not a weight-loss treatment. Its purpose is to reduce localised fat deposits and improve the contours and proportions of the body.

At AGATA, treatment is planned with the overall body shape in mind. The aim is not to remove as much fat as possible, but to create smoother transitions and a more harmonious body contour.

The Consultation

During the consultation, the patient’s fat distribution, skin quality and elasticity, and overall body proportions are assessed.

It is also considered whether liposuction alone is sufficient or whether treatment should be combined with procedures such as abdominoplasty, skin reduction or fat transfer.

The best results are generally achieved in patients with stable body weight and skin with sufficient elasticity to adapt to the new contour.

Which Areas Can Be Treated?

Liposuction can be used in areas where localised fat deposits affect body proportions. Common treatment areas include the abdomen, waist, hips, flanks, back, thighs, upper arms, chin and neck.

Several areas may be treated during the same procedure when this is appropriate for the patient’s body shape and the desired overall result.

How is the Procedure Performed?

Liposuction can be performed using different equipment and techniques. At AGATA, these include conventional liposuction, Vibrasat and Body-Jet.

The choice of technique depends on the area being treated, the characteristics of the fatty tissue, the extent of the procedure and whether the harvested fat is intended to be reused for fat transfer.

With conventional liposuction, fat is gently removed through fine cannulas after fluid has been introduced into the tissue. Vibrasat is a power-assisted technique in which movement of the cannula helps loosen the fatty tissue, while Body-Jet uses a water-assisted technique to release and collect the fat.

If the fat is to be reused for fat transfer, the technique is selected with particular attention to gentle harvesting and maintaining good fat quality for transplantation.

Depending on the extent of treatment, the procedure may be performed under local or general anaesthesia. Larger procedures and combination treatments are usually carried out under general anaesthesia.

When several areas are treated, the patient’s position may be changed during surgery so that both the front and back of the body can be shaped and assessed as one overall contour.

Body Contouring Rather Than Simply Fat Removal

Modern liposuction is not only about reducing volume.

Fat is selectively removed from areas where it disrupts the body’s proportions, while other areas are preserved to support the body’s natural curves.

In this way, even a relatively limited amount of liposuction can sometimes create a noticeable change in the silhouette without the need to remove large volumes of fat.

Liposuction Combined with Fat Transfer

If the harvested fat is of suitable quality, part of it can be purified and used for fat transfer to other areas of the body.

It may, for example, be used in the breasts, buttocks or other areas where additional volume or a softer transition is desired.

With this form of body contouring, volume is reduced in one area and used at the same time to improve shape in another.

Recovery

After liposuction, swelling, tenderness, bruising and discolouration should be expected. These changes gradually subside over the following weeks and months.

Compression garments are worn after surgery to reduce swelling and support the tissues during healing. At AGATA, compression is generally recommended day and night for the first 3 weeks and then during the daytime for a further 3 weeks.

Light activity can gradually be resumed, while more strenuous physical activity should wait until healing allows.

What Happens to the Skin?

Liposuction removes fat, but it does not remove excess skin.

The final result therefore depends greatly on skin elasticity. In patients with good skin quality, the skin can often contract well around the new contour.

If there is significant excess skin, liposuction alone may not be sufficient, and a skin-reducing procedure such as abdominoplasty may be required.

Are There Risks?

As with all surgery, possible risks include swelling, bleeding, infection, altered sensation, asymmetry and contour irregularities.

There may also be differences in how the skin retracts in different areas. In some cases, a minor corrective procedure may later be required.

The risk depends partly on the extent of treatment, skin quality, the patient’s general health and weight stability.

What Can Be Expected from the Result?

The final result develops gradually as the swelling subsides and the tissues adapt to their new shape.

The aim is a more harmonious contour and better balance between the body’s proportions.

Fat cells removed by liposuction do not return in the same way, but the remaining fat cells can still increase or decrease in size with weight changes. Maintaining a stable weight is therefore important for preserving the result over time.